Impact Protection Assembly

ABSTRACT

A impact protection assembly includes a helmet that may be worn on a user&#39;s head. The helmet has an inner shell spaced apart from an outer shell of the helmet. The inner shell surrounds the user&#39;s head when the helmet is worn on the user&#39;s head. A pad is coupled to the inner shell. The pad abuts the user&#39;s head when the helmet is worn on the user&#39;s head. The pad absorbs impact energy. A gel layer is coupled to the inner shell. The gel layer absorbs impact energy. A plurality of bristles is coupled to the gel layer. The plurality of bristles extends toward the outer shell. The plurality of bristles absorbs impact energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to protection devices and more particularlypertains to a new protection device for wearing on a user's head suchthat the assembly affords increased impact protection for the user'shead.

2. Summary of the Disclosure

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a helmet that may be worn on a user's head. Thehelmet has an inner shell spaced apart from an outer shell of thehelmet. The inner shell surrounds the user's head when the helmet isworn on the user's head. A pad is coupled to the inner shell. The padabuts the user's head when the helmet is worn on the user's head. Thepad absorbs impact energy. A gel layer is coupled to the inner shell.The gel layer absorbs impact energy. A plurality of bristles is coupledto the gel layer. The plurality of bristles extends toward the outershell. The plurality of bristles absorbs impact energy.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective cut away view of a impact protection assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through6 thereof, a new protection device embodying the principles and conceptsof an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the impact protection assembly10 generally comprises a helmet 12. The helmet 12 has an inner shell 14spaced apart from an outer shell 16 of the helmet 12. The inner shell 14of the helmet 12 has an exposed surface 18 and a hidden surface 20. Theouter shell 16 of the helmet 12 has an exterior surface 22 and aninterior surface 24.

Each of the inner 14 and outer 16 shells of the helmet 12 iscurvilinear. The helmet 12 is bowl shaped so the helmet 12 may be wornon a user's head 26. The inner shell 14 surrounds the user's head 26when the helmet 12 is worn on the user's head 26. Additionally, each ofthe inner 14 and outer 16 shells of the helmet 12 are free floating withrespect to each other. Each of the inner 14 and outer 16 shells may becomprised of a rigid and impact resistant material.

The helmet 12 has a bottom edge 28. The bottom edge 28 of the helmet 12curves upwardly proximate a front side 32 of the helmet 12. The frontside 32 of the helmet 12 is open. Moreover, the user's face 34 isexposed when the helmet 12 is worn on the user's head 26.

A pad 36 is provided. The pad 36 has an inner surface 38 and an outersurface 40. The inner surface 38 of the pad 36 is coupled to the exposedsurface 18 of the inner shell 14. The pad 36 completely covers theexposed surface 18 of the inner shell 14.

The outer surface 40 of the pad 36 engages the user's head 26 when thehelmet 12 is worn on the user's head 26. The outer surface 40 of the pad36 comprises a plurality of raised areas 42. The plurality of raisedareas 42 cushions the user's head 26 when the helmet 12 is worn on theuser's head 26. Additionally, the pad 36 may be comprised of aresiliently compressible material. The pad 36 absorbs impact energy.

A gel layer 44 has a bottom surface 46 and a top surface 48. The bottomsurface 46 of the gel layer 44 is coupled to the hidden surface 20 ofthe inner shell 14. The gel layer 44 completely covers the hiddensurface 20 of the inner shell 14. Moreover, the gel layer 44 ispositioned between the inner 14 and outer 16 shells. The gel layer 44may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material. The gel layer44 absorbs impact energy.

A plurality of bristles 50 is provided. The plurality of bristles 50each has a coupled end 52 and a free end 54. The coupled end 52 of eachof the plurality of bristles 50 is coupled to the top surface 48 of thegel layer 44. The plurality of bristles 50 extends toward the outershell 16.

The plurality of bristles 50 is evenly spaced apart and distributed onthe top surface 48 of the gel layer 44. The plurality of bristles 50completely covers the top surface 48 of the gel layer 44. Each of theplurality of bristles 50 may be comprised of a resiliently compressiblematerial. The plurality of bristles 50 absorbs impact energy.

A visor housing 56 has an open end 58 and a closed end 60. The visorhousing 56 is coupled to the interior surface 24 of the outer shell 16.The visor housing 56 is positioned on the front side 32 of the helmet12. Additionally, the open end 58 of the visor housing 56 is positionedadjacent to the bottom edge 28 of the helmet 12.

A visor 62 is provided. The visor 62 is movably coupled to the helmet12. The visor 62 is positioned within the visor housing 56.Additionally, the visor 62 is positionable in a stored position so thevisor 62 is contained within the visor housing 56. The visor 62 ispositionable in a deployed position so visor 62 extends downwardly fromthe open end 58 of the visor housing 56. The visor 62 covers the user'seyes 64 when the visor 62 is positioned in the deployed position.

The outer shell 16 of the helmet 12 has a pair of slots 66 extendingthrough the exterior 22 and interior 24 surfaces of the outer shell 16.Each of the pair of slots 66 is positioned on opposite sides of thehelmet 12 proximate the front side 32 of the helmet 12. A pair of tabs68 is coupled to the visor 62. Each of the pair of tabs 68 extendsoutwardly from an associated one of the pair of slots 66. The pair oftabs 68 are gripped to position the visor 62 between the stored anddeployed positions.

A cage 70 is movably coupled to the exterior surface 22 of the outershell 16. The cage 70 extends around the front side 32 of the helmet 12.The cage 70 is positionable in a deployed position so the cage 70 coversthe user's face 34. The cage 70 is positionable in a stored position sothe cage 70 extends around a top 72 of the helmet 12.

A pair of straps 76 are provided. The pair of straps 76 each has anattached end 78 and a loose end 80. A plurality of couplers 82 iscoupled to the outer shell 16 of the helmet 12. The plurality ofcouplers 82 is each positioned on opposite sides of the outer shell 16of the helmet 12. The attached end 78 of each of the pair of straps 76engages and associated one of the plurality of couplers 82. The looseend 80 of each of the pair of straps 76 engages one another. The pair ofstraps 76 are positioned around the user's chin 84 so the helmet 12 isretained on the user's head 26.

In use, the helmet 12 is worn when the user 74 is engaging in athleticactivities such as baseball, football, or other activities that pose animpact risk to the user's head 26. The outer shell 14 of the helmet 12absorbs the initial impact. If the impact is sufficient to deflect theouter shell 14 inwardly, the plurality of bristles 50 and the gel layer44 absorb excess impact energy. The inner shell 14 and the pad 36 absorbany remaining impact energy. The assembly 10 provides an improved levelof impact protection beyond traditional athletic helmets.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. An impact protection assembly configured to be worn on a user's headsuch that said assembly affords increased impact protection for theuser's head, said assembly comprising: a helmet configured to be worn onthe user's head, said helmet having an inner shell spaced apart from anouter shell of said helmet, said inner shell being configured tosurround the user's head when said helmet is worn on the user's head,said inner shell of said helmet having an exposed surface and a hiddensurface, said outer shell of said helmet having an exterior surface andan interior surface, each of said inner and outer shells of said helmetbeing curvilinear such that said helmet is bowl shaped; a pad coupled tosaid inner shell such that said pad is configured to abut the user'shead when said helmet is worn on the user's head; a gel layer coupled tosaid inner shell, said gel layer having a bottom surface and a topsurface, said bottom surface of said gel layer being coupled to saidhidden surface of said inner shell such that said gel layer completelycovers said hidden surface of said inner shell, said gel layer beingpositioned between said inner and outer shells; and a plurality ofbristles coupled to said gel layer such that said plurality of bristlesextends toward said outer shell, said plurality of bristles each havinga coupled end and a free end, said coupled end of each of said pluralityof bristles being coupled to said top surface of said gel layer, saidfree end being positioned in spaced relationship to said interiorsurface of said outer shell.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The assembly according toclaim 1, further comprising said helmet having a bottom edge, each ofsaid inner and outer shells being joined at said bottom edge of saidhelmet, said bottom edge of said helmet curving upwardly proximate afront side of said helmet such that said front side of said helmet isopen.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said padhaving an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of saidpad being coupled to said exposed surface of said inner shell such thatsaid pad completely covers said exposed surface of said inner shell,said outer surface of said pad engaging the user's head.
 5. (canceled)6. (canceled)
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprisingsaid plurality of bristles being evenly spaced apart and distributed onsaid top surface of said gel layer such that said plurality of bristlescompletely covers said top surface of said gel layer.
 8. The assemblyaccording to claim 3, further comprising a visor housing having an openend and a closed end, said visor housing being coupled to said interiorsurface of said outer shell such that said open end of said housing ispositioned on said front side of said helmet.
 9. The assembly accordingto claim 8, further comprising said open end of said helmet beingpositioned adjacent to said bottom edge of said helmet.
 10. The assemblyaccording to claim 9, further comprising a visor movably coupled to saidhelmet, said visor being positioned within said visor housing.
 11. Theassembly according to claim 10, further comprising said visor beingpositionable in a stored position such that said visor is containedwithin said visor housing.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11,further comprising said visor being positionable in a deployed positionhaving said visor extending downwardly from said open end of said visorhousing, said visor covering the user's eyes when said visor ispositioned in said deployed position.
 13. The assembly according toclaim 3, further comprising a cage movably coupled to said exteriorsurface of said outer shell such that said cage extends around saidfront side of said helmet.
 14. The assembly according to claim 13,further comprising said cage being positionable in a deployed positionsuch that said cage covers the user's face, said cage being positionablein a stored position such that said cage extends around a top of saidhelmet.
 15. An impact protection assembly configured to be worn on auser's head such that said assembly affords increased impact protectionfor the user's head, said assembly comprising: a helmet having an innershell spaced apart from an outer shell of said helmet, said inner shellof said helmet having an exposed surface and a hidden surface, saidouter shell of said helmet having an exterior surface and an interiorsurface, each of said inner and outer shells of said helmet beingcurvilinear such that said helmet is bowl shaped wherein said helmet isconfigured to be worn on the user's head and said inner shell isconfigured to surround the user's head when said helmet is worn on theuser's head; said helmet having a bottom edge, each of said inner andouter shells being joined at said bottom edge of said helmet, saidbottom edge of said helmet curving upwardly proximate a front side ofsaid helmet such that said front side of said helmet is open; a padhaving an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of saidpad being coupled to said exposed surface of said inner shell such thatsaid pad completely covers said exposed surface of said inner shell,said outer surface of said pad being configured to engage the user'shead when said helmet is worn on the user's head; a gel layer having abottom surface and a top surface, said bottom surface of said gel layerbeing coupled to said hidden surface of said inner shell such that saidgel layer completely covers said hidden surface of said inner shell,said gel layer being positioned between said inner and outer shells; aplurality of bristles each having a coupled end and a free end, saidcoupled end of each of said plurality of bristles being coupled to saidtop surface of said gel layer such that said plurality of bristlesextends toward said outer shell, said free end being positioned inspaced relationship to said interior surface of said outer shell, saidplurality of bristles being evenly spaced apart and distributed on saidtop surface of said gel layer such that said plurality of bristlescompletely covers said top surface of said gel layer; a visor housinghaving an open end and a closed end, said visor housing being coupled tosaid interior surface of said outer shell such that said open end ofsaid housing is positioned on said front side of said helmet, said openend of said helmet being positioned adjacent to said bottom edge of saidhelmet; a visor movably coupled to said helmet, said visor beingpositioned within said visor housing, said visor being positionable in astored position such that said visor is contained within said visorhousing, said visor being positionable in a deployed position havingsaid visor extending downwardly from said open end of said visor housingsuch that said visor is configured for covering the user's eyes whensaid visor is positioned in said deployed position; and a cage movablycoupled to said exterior surface of said outer shell such that said cageextends around said front side of said helmet, said cage beingpositionable in a deployed position such that said cage is configured tocover the user's face, said cage being positionable in a stored positionsuch that said cage extends around a top of said helmet.